Apparatus for subdividing blocks of ice



(N0 Modl.)

L.PUSEY. APPARATUS FOR SUBDIVIDING BLOCKS 0F ICE.

Patented Dec. 4, 1894.

UNITE; STAT- s Fries.

' LEA PUsEY, on WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

APPARATUS FOR SUBDIVIDING BLOCKS OF lC E,

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 530,127, dated December1, 1894.

Application filed December 21, 1891- Serial No. 415.706- (No model.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEA PUsEY, a citizenof the United States, residingat the city of Wilmington, in the county of New Castle and State ofDelaware, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methodsof and Apparatus for Subdividing Blocks of Ice, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, of which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of theapparatus as being applied to a block of ice. Fig. 2 is an enlargedsection, as on the line w or y of Fig. 1.

The object of this invention is to provide means for readily dividing uplarge blocks of ice, (such as those made artificially,) into smallblocks; and the device or apparatus which I use for the purpose consistsof what I term a melting frame, composed of a series of pipescommunicating by means of a flexible or yielding connection, such asindia rubber hose, with a pipe leading into a boiler containing steam orhot water. These pipes are arranged in the said frame according to thesize and shape of the cake or block of. ice to be divided, and to thesize of the smaller blocks into which it is to be sub-divided, and uponthe device being placed upon the large block and the steam or hot waterallowed to pass through the pipes, the contiguous ice becomes melted,the pipes making their way rapidly through the same, and thus severingthe cake into blocks clear cut and of uniform size.

Reference being had to the annexed drawings, which represent that formof the inventionIhave found most efficient and desirable, A is arectangular frame, the length of which is about equal to or greater thanthat of the ice-block to be divided. One side of this frame is composedpreferably of a bar of wood or metal a, while the other side is composedof a tube a, usually gas or Water pipe, which is rigidly connected withthe side a by means of tubular end pieces 0?. The tube a is providedwith an inlet 01, at one end to which is attached a flexiblecoupling-tube, such as india rubber hose B, the other end of whichconnects, or is adapted to connect, with a pipe leading to a boilercontainin steam or hot water.

WlSG secured to metallic reinforcing strips 61,

which are connected with the bar a by bracerods (1 The pipe D islikewise fastened to a similar strip (1 V The mode of using the meltingframe is as follows: It is placed upon the block of ice, being connectedwith the source ofsteam or hot water by the flexible coupling B. Thesteam or hot water being turned on, passes into the frame pipe at.through the pipes O, D, D; and as the steam becomes condensed it passesout through the pipes D, the free ends of which are left open for thatpurpose. The device, melting the ice in its course, rapidly sinksdownthrough the latter until theblock is entirely sub-divided; or through apart of its thickness, in which latter case the small blocks may beeasily separated the remaining distance by means of a wedge, or likeimplement.

The dimensions of the blocks depend, of

course, upon the thickness of the large block,

and the space covered by the series of copper ipes.

p I have found the above described method and device for dividing theblocks of ice a great improvement over the plans heretofore in vogue,the latter consisting in plowing suitable grooves in the block by meansof tools adapted forthe purpose, or by cutting up the blocks by an ax,or otherwise breaking it up. With my method and device, however, thesevering into blocks is accomplished with great ease and celerity, andthe blocks are perfectly smooth and uniform in size, and present a neat,or, so to say, finished appearance;

Ihere remark that although the pipes D may be round I prefer to makethem eggshaped in cross-section, the larger portion thereof beingsoldered to the reinforcing strips. The soldered edges of the copperpipes are somewhat wider than the thickness Thence it courses of thesaid strips, and the solder is applied so as to cover and protect theseedges, andthus make a smooth and uniform joint or connection. By thisconstruction, the said strips, being of less thickness than the kerf cutin the ice, by the pipes, naturally follow the latter with little or nofriction. See Fig. 2. Besides the peculiar application of the solderprotects the upper portion of the copper pipes from the condensingaction of the Water.

It will be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise formof the device shown in the drawings, or to a series of pipes, as thesub-division of the large block maybe made, although at the expense oftime, by a less number of melting pipes than I have shown, or, indeed,by a single pipe.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. The device for subdividing blocks of ice,consisting of the combination of a main longitudinal heat conductorpipe, or member,- as a'and a series of small transverse L- shapedconductor membersas C, d'communicating with said main conductor,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a device forsubdividing blocks of ice,

the combination of a main longitudinal heat conductor pipe, or member, asmall conductor parallel with and beneath said main conductor, and aseries of small transverse L- shaped conductors communicating with saidparallel conductors, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a device for subdividing blocks of ice, the combination of a mainlongitudinal heat conductor pipe, or member, a series of smalltransverse L-shaped conductors communieating therewith, and a flexibleor yielding conductor member attached to said main conductor, andadapted to be connected to the source of heat supply, substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

4. In a device for subdividing blocks of ice: the combination of thesupply pipe, the vertical pipes C communicating therewith, thehorizontal pipes D, d, the end pieces a the supporting rods 01 and thesupporting bar a.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature this 1st dayof October,

LEA PUSEY. Witnessesz.

JOSHUA PUSEY, JOHN R. NOLAN.

